Surname Pechtold - Meaning and Origin

Pechtold: What does the surname Pechtold mean?

The surname Pechtold is of Ashkenazic Jewish origin and is derived from the Yiddish word fekhtold, which means ‘craftsman.' The name was originally borne by someone who was a craftsman in a given profession. The profession may have been a blacksmith, woodworker, or metalworker. Over time, the name has spread to other countries and cultures, such as Germany and the Netherlands.

In German, the surname is sometimes written as Bechtold or Pechhold. It is found all over the world today, as many people who have the surname have moved to different countries. The same surname may also be found with other spellings, such as Packhold, Pachtold, and Pachtoldt.

Pachtold is a particularly common variation of this surname in German speaking nations. This variation may be associated with South German and Swiss origins, illustrating the spread of the surname from its original Ashkenazic Jewish roots.

In recent times, the surname has been adopted by a Dutch political figure of the same name, Alexander Pechtold. He is the leader of the Dutch political party, D66, and was Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2017 to 2021.

Overall, the surname Pechtold is associated with craftsmanship and skill, originally stemming from Ashkenazic Jewish roots in the Middle Ages. It has since spread to many countries and been associated with a number of different people, including a current Dutch politician. Those with the surname may be proud to be connected with a history of craftsmanship and skill.

Pechtold: Where does the name Pechtold come from?

Pechtold is an uncommon Dutch surname derived from the Middle Dutch personal name "Pechte" and the Germanic element "wald," meaning "rule" or "power." The surname is primarily found in the Netherlands, where it is the 59th most common surname. It has also been found in other parts of Europe, especially in Belgium and Germany.

In the United States, the surname is much less common as the population tends to be less familiar with its Dutch origins. According to a 2018 report, there were 500 :people with the last name Pechtold living in the United States. While the majority of Pechtold’s in the US live in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and North Dakota, the states with the highest concentrations of the surname are South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.

Outside Europe and the US, the surname has also been reported in Australia, China, Canada, South Africa and Brazil. However, the numbers tend to be much lower with the surname far less common in these countries.

Overall, Pechtold is an uncommon, but established, Dutch surname. While it is most common in the Netherlands, there are also occurrences across Europe, the United States and other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Pechtold

The surname Pechtold is derived from the old German given name “Pechtholt”, which itself is a combination of two old German words; “pecht” meaning “rotation” and “holdt” meaning “hero”. This surname is generally seen in Europe, particularly in German-speaking countries and has several overlapping variants and spellings.

The more traditional spelling of “Pechtold” is the most common and is most often seen in Germany, Austria, and other German-speaking regions. However, “Pechtold” and “Pechhald” are also sometimes used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The variant “Peckholdt” is commonly used in Denmark, and is also a common variant seen in the United States and Canada.

Other variants and spellings of the surname Pechtold are “Pechhold”, “Petkhold”, “Pechholdt”, “Pecold”, and “Pechthald”. Each of these spellings can be seen in various parts of Europe, particularly in regions with Germanic languages.

The surnames of Pechtold are also commonly seen in other cultural variations. In the Netherlands, the “Pecht” spelling is pronounced differently, with an “e” on the end to make it “Pechte”. This variation is often seen with common Dutch surnames that end with the suffixes -es or -s. In German, the surname can become “Pechtolde” in some cases, and can also be seen in variations of “Pechtoldel” and “Pechtholdel”.

The surname Pechtold and its variants can also be found in other countries and cultures outside of Europe. For example, in Indonesia, the surname is often seen as “Pechtolde”, and in Brazil, “Pechtold” is seen as the most common variant.

Overall, the surname Pechtold is popular in many parts of the world, and has several overlapping variants and spellings that can be found in different countries.

Famous people with the name Pechtold

• Alexander Pechtold: Dutch politician who served as Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2018.
• Hans Pechtold: Dutch cyclist from the 1940s and 1950s.
• Mark Pechtold: Dutch theoretical physicist and professor at Delft University of Technology.
• Leo Pechtold: Dutch journalist who wrote several critically acclaimed novels.
• Hans-Rudolf Pechtold: German tax lawyer and former President of the German Taxpayer's Association.
• Alfred Pechtold: German professor of law known for his work on the history and development of German civil procedure.
• Jan Pechtold: Dutch businessman and majority shareholder of Salmon Products, a seafood export company.
• Heinrich Pechtold: Austrian musician and composer, known primarily for his work on the song “Die Gedanken Sind Frei”.
• Henry Pechtold: German artist, best known for his post-impressionist portrayals of landscapes and people.
• Bernd Pechtold: German sculptor and ceramist who works primarily in silver and bronze.

Other surnames

Pechtolt